Christian Eriksen starts as Fred axed – Manchester United predicted XI vs West Ham with Wrik Ten Hag ready to make important changes as two stars returns to the first team after recovering from injury.

Manchester United will be eager to bounce back from the loss to Brighton with only a few tweaks needed vs West Ham.

The last time Manchester United lost back-to-back league games was in the first two matches of the season after an opening defeat to Brighton.

On Thursday, the Reds went down to a 99th-minute penalty from Alexis Mac Allister but will be hopeful of not repeating August’s feat by claiming a win over a stumbling West Ham on Sunday.

The Hammers have lost three straight games in a run that included Liverpool, in-form Crystal Palace and Manchester City. David Moyes is now looking over his shoulder again and will want to register points before his side are sucked into the bottom three.

They are currently four points off the drop zone with a loss potentially cutting that gap to one depending on how results elsewhere go. Meanwhile, United will be keen to keep Liverpool at arm’s length in the race for top four.

They currently sit in a Champions League spot by four points with a game in hand over their rivals. Three wins during the five-match run-in will guarantee a top four spot for United with Wolves, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Fulham up next after West Ham.

Luke Shaw admitted fault for his side’s inability to hold onto a point against Brighton having otherwise played a brilliant game before his handball. He is expected to partner Victor Lindelof in front of David de Gea once again with Raphael Varane not back until the clash with Wolves.

Diogo Dalot has played competently during his spell at left-back and will likely retain his place with the industrious Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right after a classy display against the Seagulls and namely Kaoru Mitoma.

Christian Eriksen may come back into the side after not featuring at all in the defeat at the AMEX. Fred lacked vigour on his 11th Premier League start of the season and was replaced by Marcel Sabitzer on 76 minutes.

Eriksen could reprise his role in the first-choice middle trio of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. Meanwhile, the front three could remain unchanged from the trip to Brighton.

Antony seems to have the right flank spot pinned down while Marcus Rashford always looks dangerous on the left. Anthony Martial is still yet to complete a 90 minutes this season but will likely lead the line again against West Ham.

Predicted XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes; Antony, Martial, Rashford.